Bloggers for Positive Global Change

Contrary Goddess was selected - and then she included my blog in one of the three that she chose for this nod. The Bloggers for Positive Global Change states that:

We are creating an award meme to salute these efforts. This award goes out to all of the Bloggers for Positive Global Change. It’s not limited to any specific ideologies, religions or philosophies. It puts a premium on human compassion and the desire to make the world a better place for all of us, without exception.

There are about ten blogs I have added to my blogroll. Some are other midwives, some are involved in birthwork, others are mothers who I find are insightful teachers to my daily lessons in life. Here are my choices for BPGC (and keep in mind that I'm restricting this to five blogs...I could easily do ten or fifteen!):

• Autonomous Birth: really, this idea goes beyond the attended/unattended debate. It looks at how women are physiologically made and what impacts our labors/births and what enhances it. It challenges current myths and belief systems that are impacting women and babies in a negative way. This woman, who I happen to know in real life, has taught me the most about birth than anyone. More than my three years in midwifery school, more than my apprenticeship. She continues to challenge me and keep me looking at myself and my practice in ways that isn't always comfortable - but offers incredible growth.The best thing about this blog? The author is writing a book - and that thrills me to no end.
  

• The True Face of Birth: I honestly hope that one day I am able to meet this woman in person because I'd like to give her a warm hug. I don't say that about many people - I'm not a very physically demonstrative person. But her ideas, her writing and her thoughts resound within me in such a way that I'm always fascinated to read on. Plus, she's all over the world right now and pictures of her sweet girlie in foreign places makes me smile!

• Andrea's Diary: This is the blog from author, childbirth educator and Australian birth activist Andrea Robertson. I have two of her books and they are extremely informative and wise. Her blog keeps me up to date on world issues in midwifery and birth - and I appreciate her slant on things!

• Midwifery is Catching: Training in a hospital setting in Australia, but this woman gets it. I hope she is able to further influence autonomous birth within whatever setting she practices in. Check out her knitting on Flickr, too!
  

• Fourlittlebirds: Written by the same woman who writes the Autonomous Birth blog (are you surprised?), this is a blog about the adventures with her family unschooling in a small Oregon town. I love all her children - as unschooled students of life, they are wise, witty, fiercely independent and natural teachers! I wish I could be half the mother that Linda is - her pictures and stories inspire me. She is changing the world through her mothering!

You know, I'm thinking I may have to add more. I feel so pressed only choosing a handful.